kiss

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
kiss/kɪs/

▶verb

• 1 touch or caress with the lips as a sign of love, affection, or greeting.

  ■ Billiards & Snooker (of a ball) lightly touch (another ball).

• 2 (kiss someone/thing off) N. Amer. informal dismiss someone rudely; end a relationship abruptly.

• 3 (kiss up to) N. Amer. informal behave obsequiously towards.

▶noun

• 1 a touch or caress with the lips.

  ■ Billiards & Snooker a slight touch of a ball against another ball.

• 2 N. Amer. a small cake, biscuit, or sweet.

– phrases
kiss and tell chiefly derogatory recount one's sexual exploits concerning a famous person.
kiss someone's arse (or N. Amer. ass) vulgar slang behave obsequiously towards someone.
kiss of death an action that ensures failure, especially when apparently benign.
kiss of life

• 1 mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

• 2 something that revives a failing enterprise.

kiss of peace a ceremonial kiss signifying unity, especially during the Eucharist.
kiss the rod accept punishment submissively.

– derivatives
kissable adjective,
kissy adjective (informal).

– origin OE cyssan (v.), of Gmc origin.